Other Candidates on Taxes
We tried to find out the thoughts on a proposed flat tax from candidates other than Steve Forbes. If they had nothing to say about a flat tax, we represented their general view on taxes.
Lamar Alexander: "In the current tax reform debate. I'm in favor of a flatter, fairer, simpler tax system. But I'm not for the purists' version of the flat tax, either. The pure flat tax would wipe out the charitable deduction at a time when we want the government in Washington to do less and the charities to do more. It would completely eliminate the home mortgage interest deduction, a step which will disadvantage millions of homeowners and cause a real estate recession. I also have concerns about its impact on the Americans who have planned their savings around tax-free municipal bonds -- another certain casualty of the purist' flat-tax plan. Most important, I've yet to be persuaded that the pure version of the flat tax wouldn't result in a tax increase for middle-income Americans." (Press release, 10/25/95)
Pat Buchanan: Buchanan supports "a flat tax on all personal income tax -- wages, salaries, dividends and interest. The only allowable deductions under the Buchanan Flat Tax will be mortgage interest and charitable contributions. Under Mr. Buchanan's plan, a family of four would be able to exempt the first $25,000 in income from federal TAXES." (Press release, 7/20/95)
Bill Clinton: "The Clinton administration has criticized the Armey flat tax, saying it would not raise enough revenue at 17 percent." (SF Chronicle, 7/24/95)
Robert Dole: "I believe we must scrap the current tax code and start again from scratch. We need a new tax code that moves us toward a system with lower and flatter rates." (Remarks by Senator Robert Dole at the Economic Club of Chicago, 9/5/95)
Bob Dornan: "I certainly favor a flat tax over the current system, some economic experts argue that its should be used as an interim solution while the Congress studies other option to simplify the tax code. An option that I believe deserves consideration is one that, like the flat tax, eliminates complicated deductions and credits but also exempts savings and investments from taxation." (Letter from Bob Dornan to the Center for Public Integrity, 11/30/95)
Phil Gramm: "I want to cut the capital gains tax rate, I want to cut tax rates, I want to go to a flat tax, and I know that if Bill Clinton were here he would say, now wait a minute, if you cut the capital gains tax rate, if you cut tax rates, rich people are going to see the opportunity that will create, they are going to mobilize their capital, they are going to exploit that opportunity by investing and creating jobs, and if they are successful, they are going to earn profits!' Welcome to America. I never apologized for the American free enterprise system. If America is going to be saved, it is going to be saved at a profit, and I intend for America to be saved."
Alan Keyes: "The best way to curtail government spending is to cut TAXES. They can't spend what they don't get." (Keyes position paper)
Richard Lugar: "Lugar doesn't oppose a flat tax," said Lugar's press secretary Terry Holt. "He thinks a national sales tax is the way to go," Holt said. "A national sales tax on goods and services would replace the federal personal and corporate income TAXES. The capital gains tax and the estate tax would be eliminated as well."
